Lyman Draper's book is one of the most authentic accounts of events and people engaged in military action in South Carolina. In many cases, Draper has captured first-hand stories of men who actually fought in the Revolution and stories handed down into the next generation of their descendants, incorporating accounts from soldiers' personal journals or those oral histories told to their families which were preserved in both published and private records. Where references were made to an event that were contradictory, Draper often visited the place the event occurred and interviewed residents of the area to arrive at the truth. His narrative is balanced, giving the perspectives of men who fought on both sides in the War. The book is an excellent and valuable resource for any student of history but the entire volume reads like a modern-day bestseller, quite an accomplishment for any writer in the mid-19th century. Draper's candid accounts of soldiers in the American and British armies give a great deal of insight not only into events that occurred but also into the thinking of the participants. His story reveals an entirely new perspective on the events leading up to the battle of King's Mountain. This book is a 'must-read' for any serious student of American history.